Do dust and air pollution make sunsets more dramatic? Do the seasons affect sunsets? So conversely, could local weather forecasters predict a pretty sunset? Why are sunsets sometimes more dramatic after a major storm? Is it true that by the time we see a sunset, the sun is actually already gone?
Sounds like there's a lot of science to sunsets, but it's also a very subjective experience. This interview has been edited and condensed. Follow Amanda Fiegl on Twitter. Share Tweet Email.
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Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. For example, the accompanying image of photographers on the beach takes advantage of the sunset colors reflecting off the water. Report an error Policies and Standards Contact Us. More in Environment. Conversely, low-lying clouds like stratus and stratocumulus clouds rarely yield noteworthy sunsets. This is because the higher-level clouds intercept more sunlight that has not been muted by passing through the boundary layer, the space between the upper or "free" atmosphere and Earth.
In reality, there's a beautiful sunset to be seen just about every evening; we just can't always see it from our perspective on the ground, National Geographic reports. If you were to board a flight during an absolutely ordinary sunset, you may be shocked to see that this same ordinary sunset looks spectacular from your new perspective thousands of feet off the ground.
This can happen because on the ground, you are in the boundary layer of the atmosphere, where large particles tend to get trapped. As you take off and leave that boundary layer, that same sunset suddenly looks more vivid because your position and perspective have changed, according to National Geographic.
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The Buzz. That means not as much blue or violet light reaches the ground. At sunset, light has to travel through a greater distance of atmosphere to reach our eyes — so even more blue light, and even some green and yellow light, gets filtered out. But why are they seemingly more saturated during the colder months? But the explanation for why low humidity produces better sunsets is a bit indirect. These can be chemicals naturally produced by trees, they can be from the wind kicking up dirt and dust into the atmosphere, or they can be from man-made pollution sources.
When these aerosols attract water vapor, they swell. That is, they block the view. Also: Some people just might like the gauzier sunsets produced by occluded air. As we approach the winter solstice, the time the sun takes to set lengthens, due to the angle the sun takes in setting into the ground. During the equinoxes, the sun pretty much sinks into the ground at a degree angle. Nearer the winter solstice, the sun sets on more of an angle, drawing out the time it takes to set.
Which is to say: Sunset colors linger closer to the winter solstice, which allows us to enjoy them for longer. One last thing: The clouds may be more conducive to beautiful sunsets in the winter.
After a day or two of clouds, or rain, or snow, and these weather systems move westward, they set up conditions for stunning sunsets draped by clouds. We look at the sunset in the western sky, they provide a theater-like backdrop for the sun. Those clouds can then reflect those beautiful warm hues back to our eyes, intensifying the experience.
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